1. Berlin, August 26, 2010
Press Release
EUROPEAN LITERATURE NETWORK HALMA IN LATVIA
Latvian Poetry Days and panel discussion on Europe with young authors
From September 10th to 12th, 2010 the annual HALMA members’ meeting of the European
Network of Literary Centres will take place in Ventspils, Latvia. The International Writers’ and
Translators’ House in Ventspils will be the host of the meeting and invites to a weekend of
literature and events on the occasion of the Latvian Poetry Days.
„Financial Crisis – European Cultural Crisis?“ – A panel discussion with the president of the
HALMA network Krzysztof Czyzewski (Poland) and HALMA-grantees Andrés Barba (Spain) and
Jeroen Theunissen (Belgium) will take place on September 11th. An audience of cultural and
literary experts has been invited to discuss with the members of the HALMA network how the
financial crisis affects the cultural sector in Europe.
On September 11, 2010 at 5 p.m. the Prize of the Ventspils House will be awarded for the
second time to renown international authors who have lived and worked in Ventspils in the past
two years as residents of the Writers’ and Translators’ House.
On September 12, 2010 at 8:30 p.m. public readings with Latvian poets will take place at the
Writers’ and Translators’ House in Ventspils. Maira Asare, Uldis Bērziņš, Liāna Langa, Edvīns
Raups and the artistic group Orbita have been invited to present their works.
With kind support of the European Commission and the Robert Bosch Foundation.
The Ministry of Culture, the Ventspils City Council and the Latvian Literature Center established
the International Writers' and Translators’ House in order to promote the development of
literature, to encourage cross-cultural dialogue and to introduce Latvian literature on an
international level of exchange. Furthermore, the decentralisation of the development of literature
in Latvia shall be facilitated by fostering a lively cultural environment in different regions of Latvia.
www.ventspilshouse.lv
HALMA connects 26 literary centers in 21 European countries, from Finland in the North to
Rhodes in the South, from Minsk in the East to France in the West. The network organizes
annual meetings as well as two-month scholarships for writers. It was initiated by the Literary
Colloquium Berlin, the Polish Pogranicze Foundation and the Robert Bosch Foundation.
www.halma-network.eu
We would appreciate it very much, if you could circulate this information. If you have any further
questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.
Best regards,
Nicola Beissner
HALMA – the European Network of Literary Centres
Schillerstr. 56, 10627 Berlin
presse@halma-network.eu
Tel: 0049 (0)30-31517484